Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has appealed to the three co-hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup to ease certain travel and visa requirements for supporters planning to attend the tournament.

The United States, Canada and Mexico will jointly stage the global showpiece, which will feature an expanded 48-nation field and a record 104 matches. The tournament is scheduled to kick off on June 11, with Mexico facing South Africa in the opening game.

Ghana, drawn into Group L, will begin its campaign against Panama on June 17, before taking on England on June 23 and Croatia on June 27.

According to Mr Adams, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Buem Constituency, existing visa application processes often demand proof of strong social and economic ties — such as property ownership, marital status and detailed bank statements — requirements he said many ordinary football fans may struggle to meet. He, therefore, called for more flexible arrangements to ensure supporters from countries like Ghana were not unfairly excluded from participating in the World Cup experience.

“I may be a sports fan and may not have any ties—no marriage, no children—does that mean I shouldn’t be allowed to go and watch the World Cup?” he queried.

The minister appealed to American values to buttress his argument, particularly in light of the recent tightening of restrictions at US embassies.

“America believes in recreation and the rights of individuals, so you cannot continue to place excessive restrictions on people who simply want to travel to watch the World Cup,” he said.

He stressed that special considerations should be made for the tournament, adding: “Certain requirements must be relaxed because of the World Cup.”